Latest news with #Battin
Sky News AU
08-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘At what cost?': Victorian opposition dismisses poll showing support for Suburban Rail Loop warning the project is a ‘debt bomb'
The Victorian opposition has dismissed polling showing a majority of Victorians support a major Allan government infrastructure project, describing it as a 'debt bomb'. Newspoll results released on Tuesday show a massive 78 per cent of Victorians are fairly worried or very worried about the state's skyrocketing debt levels – which are set to hit $194 billion by 2028-29. However the poll also found 59 per cent of Victorians backed the controversial multi-stage Suburban Rail Loop project, the first stage of which is set to cost more than $34 billion. Opposition Leader Brad Battin dismissed the findings on Tuesday afternoon, telling reporters the question lacked key context. 'It depends on what question you ask. If I said to people, would you like to see a rail loop that goes all the way around Melbourne, they'd say yes. But if I said to you, it's at the cost of the next generations ever getting infrastructure, they'd say no,' Mr Battin said. The comment was echoed by shadow major projects minister Evan Mulholland, who said everyone liked a train, "but they don't like a debt bomb". "A debt bomb is what the Suburban Rail Loop is,' Mr Mulholland added. 'It's Victorians, particularly in the eastern suburbs, but everywhere that will be paying for the suburban rail loop for generations.' Mr Mulholland said the Victorian Liberals and Nationals wanted more new rail, but priority should be given to electrifying rail in outer suburban growth areas. 'It's people in the growth areas, places like Donnybrook and Wallen in my electorate, and Wyndham Vale and Melton that desperately need electrified rail,' he said. 'And we know the government sitting on a secret report which shows that these communities, within five years, are going to be facing crushed conditions where V-Line trains are going to have to skip stations because the government hasn't planned the infrastructure where it is urgent. 'We want electrified rail where it's needed for all Victorians, because you've got people living in third-world conditions in our growth areas. Our fellow Victorians that are suffering, that do not have public transport access where it's needed.' Mr Battin said that in just four years Victoria would be spending $1.2 million every hour in interest on the debt. 'That's more than $10 billion each and every year,' he said. 'That's nearly twice what we spend on Victoria Police during a crime crisis. It's just under what we spend in health during a health crisis. It's more than we spend on education here in Victoria. How can the government justify putting so much money into one project?' The Allan government is yet to outline how it will fund the SRL East - the first of three stages on the project, which will see trains run between Cheltenham and Box Hill. The Victorian government has committed just $11.8 billion towards the project with the Albanese government committing just $2.2 billion, leaving an almost $20 billion black hole – with the Allan government claiming a third of the funding will come from value capture. The multi-stage orbital train line was estimated to cost $50 billion when it was proposed by then-Premier Daniel Andrews ahead of the 2018 state election. However costs have since doubled, with a 2024 report by the Parliamentary Budget Office estimating it will cost $96.4 billion to build the SRL East and SRL North sections of the project. SRL East, which is already being constructed, will see trains running from Cheltenham to Box Hill, with stops in Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley and Burwood – thereby connecting the Frankston, Pakenham/Cranbourne, Glen Waverley and Lilydale/Belgrade train lines. SRL North will then see this extended from Box Hill to Melbourne Airport, with stops in Doncaster, Heidelberg, Bundoora, Reservoir, Fawkner, and Broadmeadows – connecting the Lilydale/Belgrade line with the Hurstbridge, Mernda, Upfield and Craigieburn lines. The line will then connect to the long-awaited Melbourne airport rail link, which will run from Sunshine to the Airport via Keilor East, with a final SRL West section connecting Werribee to Sunshine.
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Pox on both your houses': Victoria voters unimpressed
Major party leaders have refused to buy into a new poll after it indicated an incumbent state Labor government was on track to secure a fourth consecutive term in power. More Victorian voters believe Opposition Leader Brad Battin would make a better state premier than the incumbent, Labor's Jacinta Allan. But the Liberal Party leader's preferred premier status, at 41 per cent to Ms Allan's 36 per cent, doesn't appear to be enough to convince voters to back the coalition into government, according to a Newspoll. The poll, published in The Australian on Monday, shows Labor's primary vote is now even with the opposition at 35 per cent. On a two-party preferred basis, Labor is ahead 53 per cent against 47 per cent for the coalition. Ms Allan, whose government has increasingly been on the nose with the public, said she was focused on issues important to voters instead of the "disarray" within the Victorian Liberal Party. "I'm focused on what matters to Victorians, to working people and their families," she told reporters. Mr Battin highlighted his party's policies around crime and housing and took credit for the government's changes to their reforms on bail and a machete ban. "Polls come and go, and I've been working pretty hard each and every day and making sure that the community is aware of what we are doing," he said. Newspoll head Campbell White told The Australian "this is a 'pox on both your houses'". "However, while there is a swing (toward the coalition) it is relatively modest and not sufficient for the government to change," he said. The premier took the opportunity to lambast the opposition after it had been embroiled in infighting and a leadership spill, involving first-term MP Moira Deeming. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal Party room after attending a Let Women Speak rally, which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis but welcomed back in December after John Pesutto lost the leadership. Mr Pesutto was then ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming in an ongoing court battle. "It is clear that they're extreme, they're divided, they're reckless, they don't trust each other, and therefore, why should Victorians trust them?" Ms Allan said. Mr Battin conceded his party has had "internal issues that have been frustrating" but insisted his team is competent and will give a "real good run" at the next election. "It's not about us. It's not about our internal politics. It's about everyday Victorians who, at the moment are struggling," he said. The poll of 1071 voters has a margin of error of 3.42 per cent and was conducted on June 23-30. Victorian voters head to the polls in November 2026.
Sky News AU
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin says Allan government has ‘failed to act' on antisemitism, demands crackdown on hate speech
The Victorian Opposition has accused the Allan government of not doing enough to combat antisemitism, claiming the hate speech had been allowed to turn into action. Melbourne's Jewish community were the target of multiple incidents over the weekend, including an alleged arson attack on an East Melbourne Synagogue. Premier Jacinta Allan visited the East Melbourne Jewish Congregation on Monday morning after announcing the launch of a new anti-hate taskforce which will bring together senior government ministers, Victoria police, and representatives of the Jewish community. However Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the Premier had made similar pledges to address the growth in antisemitism following the firebombing of the Addas Israel synagogue last year and nothing had happened. 'She came out in December when we had the attack already on a synagogue with a firebombing, and said with a media statement, the things they were going to do to fix this, to get rid of hate crime in Victoria. Not one of them has been delivered,' Mr Battin told Sky News Australia. 'I think the real focus for many people in the Jewish communities is what's happening. We don't want more media releases. We want action.' Mr Battin said the failure to address had caused members of the Jewish community to fear going to their places of worship. 'We're getting to a stage now it's almost embarrassing, particularly here in Victoria and Melbourne,' he said. 'We've got communities that we're seeing more and more through these synagogues who are afraid to go to their own place of worship. 'A government's responsibility should be to protect that freedom that is their right to do that. A government should ensure that happens. 'And that includes making sure that we can have move on laws to stop the protests, protecting people in the street and get rid of the hate crimes as well as some of the hate speech has been happening here in Victoria.' While acknowledging the government could not arrest its way out of the problem, Mr Battin said the government could start by cracking down on hate speech, arguing it was driving some of the incidents. 'Hate speech leads to action, and the actions we're seeing is not just the synagogues, but it's restaurants owned by people within the Jewish community,' he said. 'So our priority have always said we'd have the move on laws brought back in… because when we had them, they worked. We gave the police the powers to move people on when it was the potential of a violent protest or there were specific speech in there with hate speech.' The Opposition Leader also called for a crackdown on signs calling for 'death" to particular groups. This comes after signs of 'death, death to the IDF' and 'glory to the Martyrs' were spotted at a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Sunday. 'We're seeing signs come out more and more now with death to a group. So 'death to Jews', 'death to Zionism'. How is it acceptable? I can't threaten to kill someone and get away with it," Mr Battin said. 'How could it be acceptable to go out into the community and say, I'm threatening to kill a whole group. 'What you're that is leading to is people who are on the borderline will end up acting. And what we're seeing now is those actions from that original hate speech is what the consequences are. 'And the government has failed to act on this.' However Mr Battin said a 'national approach' to address the growth in antisemitism and protect people's freedom to worship was needed. 'There does need to be a national approach. We all admit there has to be a national approach, at some stage on this around hate crimes and around hate laws.' Speaking outside the East Melbourne Synagogue on Monday, Premier Jacinta Allan pledged to 'put a stop to hate' and 'put a stop to antisemitism.' 'Not only does it have no place here in Melbourne and Victoria, it has no place anywhere,' she said. 'I'll continue to stand with the strong, proud Jewish community here in Victoria every single day, every single day. They are a big, important part of our community. They demand our support at this most difficult time. 'They demand our action, which is why, alongside strengthening laws, the response of Victorian Police, we will continue to work to build a stronger place where everyone can be who they are, practice their faith safe, free from hate.'
Sky News AU
06-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
New polling puts Victorian Labor on track to secure historic fourth term, with support for Coalition falling amid string of controversies
Two separate polls have indicated that if a state election were held today, the Victorian Labor government would cruise to victory, despite the majority of voters preferring Opposition Leader Brad Battin as Premier. A Redbridge poll, obtained by The Herald Sun, showed the Victorian Labor Party was in a prime election winning position, leading the Coalition 51.5 to 48.5 on a two-party preferred count. This would translate to an unprecedented fourth election victory for Labor if the current vote held, with the ALP experiencing a four-point bump to its primary vote. The development comes as Labor grapples with a mounting $149 billion debt pile, a budget crisis with the risk of a credit downgrade, delays and cost blowouts to critical infrastructure projects, and surging youth crime rates among other issues. Support meanwhile for Mr Battin's Coalition has plunged to 38 per cent, five points lower than when he was appointed leader in December. The poll of 1,183 Victorians represents a significant shift, with the Coalition having led Labor 51–49 on a two-party preferred basis eight months ago shortly before John Pesutto was dumped as leader. The Coalition has lost the support of almost all demographics, including every age group, tertiary educated and women voters, signifying a major blow to Mr Battin's leadership amid the tumultuous legal feud between MP Moira Deeming and Mr Pesutto. The opposition has also lost the support of migrant voters and those residing in Melbourne's inner, middle and outer suburbs, leading Labor only in rural areas. Only 26 per cent of Victorians polled said they believed the opposition was worthy of governing. However, support for Premier Jacinta Allan had similarly taken a hit, with only 27 per cent of those surveyed saying they had confidence in a re-elected Labor government. A Newspoll conducted for The Australian also showed that Ms Allan would cling to government, with Labor leading the Coalition 53–47 on a two-party preferred basis. Ms Allan's personal popularity and voter satisfaction suffered a bruising and trails Mr Battin 41-36 as preferred Premier. A resounding 59 per cent of voters polled said they did not believe Labor deserved to be re-elected, with 61 per cent stating they were unhappy with Ms Allan's leadership style. Victorians are equally dissatisfied with the Coalition, with 60 per cent stating they did not believe the opposition was ready to take the reins after 11 years in the wilderness. Labor secured 37 per cent of the primary vote, with the Coalition sitting at 34.40 per cent and the Greens at 11.50 per cent. The poll further uncovered that support within the major parties rank and file had plummeted, with 44 per cent of Labor supporters and 23 per cent of Liberal voters turning away from their respective parties. Although Labor is well short of achieving it's thumping 2022 result, Redbridge co-director Kos Samaras said preference flows from minor parties would comfortably deliver Labor a record fourth term. 'Labor is racking up support in fast-growing urban electorates within diverse Melbourne and highly educated constituencies,' he said. 'While the Coalition is piling up votes in ageing, shrinking seats they already hold.'
Sydney Morning Herald
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Allan government scrambles to beef up efforts to tackle antisemitism with new anti-hate taskforce
Victoria Police declined to comment on the identity of the person or the nature of the groups involved. Premier Jacinta Allan, who is expected to visit East Melbourne Synagogue on Monday, will announce that the new anti-hate taskforce will meet this week for the first time. In a statement to The Age, the premier said the group would initially include state government representatives including herself and the police minister, Lord Mayor Nick Reece and police representatives, but its membership would grow over time. Invitations will also be sent to members of Melbourne's Jewish community for the taskforce's first meeting this week. Allan described the attack on the synagogue as a 'sickening' crime. She said her government would soon receive the Lekakis review into the multicultural sector, which is expected to make recommendations about requiring organisations to sign a 'social cohesion pledge' before receiving funding. At the pro-Palestinian protest on Sunday, a protest leader opened the event by condemning the attack on the synagogue, where 20 worshippers were gathered for a meal on the weekly Jewish holy day of Shabbat, on Friday night. A large, watermelon-inspired sign reading 'Ceasefire Now' led the marchers down Swanston Street. Other protesters carried signs reading 'Death, death to the IDF', 'Glory to the Martyrs' and 'You're sick of us? We're sick of Israel killing children'. Speakers at the rally focused heavily on the killing by Israeli forces of hundreds of starving Palestinian civilians as they tried to secure food at the stations run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. On Sunday, state Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the government should give police stronger powers to move on protesters, which the Coalition has pledged to reintroduce if elected. 'When we had those laws here in Victoria, the police had the power to move people on, and protests like this could be stopped before they got to the stage they are these days,' Battin said. 'There needs to be some big changes so you can feel safe in the community as a Jewish person living here in Victoria.' Battin said police officers wanted the laws and there would be a 'clear vote' on the issue at the 2026 election. In December, the Allan government pledged new measures to tackle a rise in antisemitic incidents, including the arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea. These included bans on the display of flags and symbols from listed terrorist organisations in public, face masks at protests and the use of glue, rope, chains and other attachment devices to cause disruptions. New laws will also be introduced to protect places of worship, with consultation under way on the best methods, including the potential establishment of 'safe access areas' prohibiting protests, or the strengthening of existing offences. Allan government minister Colin Brooks said the government condemned Friday's attacks, and pointed to the government's forthcoming legislation. 'It's not protest; that is hate-fuelled mob violence and crime,' he said. 'The premier's been very strong on this. We've seen the police respond very quickly ... There's a lot of work that the Victorian government is doing to stamp this out.' Liberal MP David Southwick said the government should have already implemented its proposed laws, given it was seven months after they were announced. 'The Jewish community feel under siege,' he said. 'What is the government waiting for? We saw it happen at Adass. It should have been a warning sign for the government to get off their backsides and ensure that the community can be kept safe.' A source in the pro-Palestine movement, who asked to speak anonymously, said the protesters at Miznon were 'dickheads that think they are righteous and have the right to impact innocent bystanders. 'It ruins public opinion – they do it in Palestine's name and not one Palestinian was there.' The Whistleblowers, Activists & Communities Alliance, a group tied to the storming of the Miznon restaurant, urged the public to 'stop clutching their pearls' and instead focus on the conflict in Gaza.
